Dual vent for storage containers

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure shows a variety of storage container venting assemblies which allow for venting of gasses to equalize pressure differentials created between the interior of the container and the atmosphere. The venting assemblies are capable of venting gasses out of a container when pressure is higher inside the container and into a container when pressure is higher in the atmosphere.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to co-pending U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/568,863, filed on Oct. 6, 2018, thedisclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is that of storage containers. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with a ventilation system formaintaining atmospheric pressure within storage drums for chemicalstorage, transportation and mixing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage drums are commonly used in industry for the storage, transport,and dispensing of liquids, pastes, gels, and powders. The ubiquitous55-gallon drum may be made from metal, plastic, and the like and istypically equipped with a removable lid 10 such as shown in FIG. 9. Suchlids 10 typically include two access ports 12, 14, or bung holes, whichallow for the addition or removal of liquids from therein. The ports 12,14 may be of the same or different sizes. Commonly such lids include one2-inch threaded hole and one ¾ inch threaded hole with complementarythreaded stoppers or bungs to seal the ports. The lid may also include agasket 16 positioned between the lid and the drum to prevent leakage.

Liquid material may be dispensed from such drums in a variety of ways.For example, liquid contents may simply be poured from one port. Inother examples, a spigot or nozzle may be screwed into one port and thedrum stored on its side so that liquid may be controllably dispensed byoperation of the spigot or nozzle. Pumps such as hand pumps or electricpumps may be screwed into one port and operated to pump liquid from adrum. Such pumps have the advantage of allowing the drum to remain in avertical orientation so that liquid does not leak from the port.

No matter the method used to remove material from one port, the secondport must be at least partially opened so as to allow air to enter thedrum and prevent buildup of a vacuum inside the drum as material isremoved. Depending on the material stored in a drum, a port may need tobe opened partially so as to allow for venting to prevent pressure frombuilding up in the drum. Leaving a port open for venting purposes allowsoutside materials to potentially enter the drum and contaminate thematerial stored therein. If the material being stored in the drum isvolatile then leaving one port open at all times may allow the materialto evaporate. What is needed is a venting device for storage drums whichallows for the automatic venting when excess pressure is present in adrum as well as for the ingress of air to prevent vacuum build up whendispensing material from the drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention itself will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a venting assembly according to an exampleof the disclosed invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a venting assembly according to an example ofthe disclosed invention.

FIG. 3 is partial cut away view of the venting assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a venting cap.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the venting cap of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a dual venting insert.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a dual venting insert.

FIG. 8 is a cut away view of the dual venting insert of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a storage drum lid.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a venting assembly according to anotherexample of the disclosed invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. Although the drawings representembodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarilyto scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to betterillustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification setout herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention in any manner.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed below is/are not intended to be exhaustive orlimit the invention to the precise form disclosed in the followingdetailed description. Rather, the embodiment is chosen and described sothat others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of dual venting assembly 20 according toone example of the disclosed invention. In this example, ventingassembly 20 comprises body portion 24, venting cap portion 22, andventing insert portion 26. Assembly body portion 24 may be sized andconfigured to fit and work with standardized port sizes on drum lids(e.g., 2-inch threaded openings or ¾ inch threaded openings) or withother ports or openings on storage containers such as non-threadedopenings or openings of non-standard sizes and/or shapes. Body portion24 includes lip portion 28, threaded portion 44, through passage 40, andone or more dogs 42 or other structures which allow the body portion tobe tightened/removed from a storage container port. For convenience, theend of generally cylindrical body portion 24 with lip portion 28 isproximal end 41 and the oppositely disposed end is distal end 43. Lipportion 28 is sized and configured to cover a storage container portwhen the assembly is inserted therein. Optionally, lip portion 28 mayinclude gasket 46 mounted between lip portion 28 and the container portso as to prevent leaks. Optionally, the assembly includes venting capportion 22 comprising mounting ring 32 and cover 30. Venting insertportion 26 includes venting insert body 34, first vent cover ordiaphragm 36, and second vent cover or diaphragm 38. In this particularexample, first and second vent covers 36, 38 are different sizes. Inother examples, the vent covers may be identically sized.

FIGS. 2-3 are side views of a venting assembly according to an exampleof the disclosed invention. In this example, through passage 40 of bodyportion 28 includes two portions having different diameters. Firstdiameter portion 57 is sized and configured to accommodate insertion andinterface 52 of mounting ring 32 of venting cap portion 22. Seconddiameter portion 56 is sized and configured to accommodate insertion andinterface 54 of venting insert body 34 of venting insert portion 26. Inother examples, the through passage of the body portion is a singlediameter passage. The exact nature of interfaces 52, 54 between mountingring 32 and body portion 28 and between venting insert body 34 and bodyportion 28 may vary between different embodiments as desired dependingon the materials used. Interfaces 52, 54 may be threaded, glued,sonically welded, interference fit, or any other suitable securingmethod. In other examples, body portion 28 and one of venting insertbody 34 or venting cap portion 22 may be formed as a single piece.

Venting cap portion 22 as shown in FIGS. 4-5 includes mounting ring 32and cover 30. Mounting ring 32 includes central opening 62 which mayoptionally include a filter material to capture vapors vented from astorage container. Cover 30 includes one or more supports 50 whichsecure cover 30 at a distance above mounting ring 32 so as to create gap58 which allows air or other gasses to pass therethrough. Venting cap 22is optional, but prevents dust, dirt, and other debris from collectingon venting insert portion 26 and potentially contaminating the fluidstored inside a storage container, damaging the components of ventinginsert portion 26, and/or preventing the venting components fromfunctioning. Optionally, cover 30 may be removable so as to allow forinspection of venting insert portion 26 components.

Venting insert portion 26 as shown in FIGS. 6-8 includes venting insertbody 34, first vent cover 36, and second vent cover 38. Venting insertbody 34 includes mounting portion 54 sized and configured to interfacewith and mount to body portion 24 of a mounting assembly for attachmentto a pressurized container. Insert body 34 may be secured to bodyportion 24 of the mounting assembly by threads, glue, adhesive, sonicwelds, an interference fit, or any other suitable securing method.Optionally, insert body 34 is removably secured to body portion 24 ofthe mounting assembly so as to allow for inspection, repair, and/orreplacement of venting insert portion 26 and/or its components.

First vent cover 36 is secured to venting insert portion 26 usingsnap-fastening pin 64 which passes through opening 72 in venting insertbody 34. Pin 62 is held in place by tabs 73 (two in this exemplaryembodiment) which expand or move away from one another once pin 64passes through or is snapped through opening 72. Optionally, the pin 64may be screwed, glued, or formed as a part of the venting insert body.First vent cover 36 is positioned so as to cover a plurality of ventingholes 70 in venting insert body 34. In this example, first vent cover 36is configured so as to prevent air or other gasses from passing into astorage container as indicated by direction arrow 100, but to allowgasses to pass out of a storage container as indicated by directionarrow 102 when they exceed a certain predetermined pressure, such as14.9 psi. Once the pressure inside the storage container drops below thepredetermined pressure, vent cover 36 returns to its unpressurized shapeand prevents passage of gasses into or out of the container.

Second vent cover 38 is secured to venting insert portion 26 usingsnap-fastening pin 68, which passes through opening 74 in venting insertbody 34. Pin 68 is held in place by tabs 76 (two in this exemplaryembodiment) that exert a small urging force away from one another, suchthat when inserted through opening 74 (snapped into place) the tabs 76expand or move away from one another after once pin 68 passes throughopening 74. Optionally, the pin 68 may be screwed, glued, or formed as apart of the venting insert body. First vent cover 38 is positioned so asto cover a plurality of venting holes 66 in venting insert body 34.Second vent cover 38 operates in a similar manner as first vent cover36, but second vent cover 38 operates to prevent the passage of air orother gasses out of a storage container as indicated by direction arrow102, but to allow gasses to pass in to a storage container as indicatedby direction arrow 100 when they exceed a certain predeterminedpressure.

The exact pressure at which vent cover 36, 38 deflects and allowspassage of gasses out of the storage container may be controlled by thematerial (such as rubber or SANTOPRENE; SANTOPRENE is a registeredtrademark of the Monsanto Company Corporation, 800 N. Lindberg Blvd.,St. Louis, Mo., reg. no. 1081414) used to construct the vent cover, thecover's size, and its thickness. In some embodiments, pin 64, 68 holdingvent cover 36, 38 in place is frictionally secured in insert body 34,and in others is threadedly connected to insert body 34 as well asoperationally connected to vent cover 36, 38, such that bypushing/pulling (frictional engagement) or turning (threaded engagement)pin 64, 68, tension applied to cover member 36, 38 may be increased ordecreased. Post tensioning of cover member 36, 38 allows a user toincrease or decrease the predetermined pressure threshold required toactuate venting. For example, tension on cover 36 may be adjusted suchthat the predetermined threshold pressure on the cover is 14.9 psi(slightly greater than ambient atmospheric), 15.5 psi, 15.8 psi, 16.2psi, or the like. Likewise, the threshold pressure on cover member 38may be adjusted to be 14.55 psi, 14.50 psi, or the like. In theseembodiments, cover members 36, 38 are typically made of metals such assteel, aluminum, or the like.

The pressure differential which operates first vent cover 36 is createdwhen pressure builds up inside the storage container until it exceedsthe air pressure outside the container. The pressure differential whichoperates second vent cover 38 is created when pressure drops (i.e.,vacuum is created) inside the storage container until the air pressureoutside the container exceeds the pressure inside the container by asufficient amount. Such vacuum is usually generated by removing liquidfrom the container. When the air pressure outside the container exceedsthe pressure inside the container by a predetermined amount the secondvent cover deflects and allows air to pass in the direction of arrow 100into the container to equalize the pressure. The exact pressure at whichsecond vent cover 38 deflects and allows passage of gasses into thestorage container may be controlled by the material used to constructthe vent cover, the cover's size, and its thickness. Once the pressureinside the storage container increases above the predetermined pressurevent cover 38 returns to its unpressurized shape and prevents passage ofgasses into or out of the container.

The use of two vent covers configured to allow passage of gasses indifferent directions allows for a single venting device to relievepressure differentials caused by either an increase or a decrease ofpressure within a storage container relative to ambient pressure withoutthe container, while still maintaining a sealed container when there isno such pressure differential. As shown in this particular example,second vent cover 38 is larger than first vent cover 36. Such aconfiguration may be used where the material stored inside the containeris not particularly volatile so that vacuum build up (i.e., a gradualdecrease in pressure within the container) generated by the pumping ofliquid from the container is more likely than excess pressure build upwithin the container from vapor or gas evolved from the material storedin the container. In other examples, the vent covers may be of a similarsize or the first vent cover may be larger than the second vent cover,as desired. In still other examples, a filter may be attachable to theventing assembly to capture harmful vapors as they are vented throughthe first vent cover. The exact nature and composition of the filter andfiltering medium would vary according to the material being stored inthe container.

FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of another example of venting assembly120 according to the disclosed invention. In this example, ventingassembly 120 includes vent cap portion 122, body adapter portion 124,and venting insert portion 132. In this example, vent cap portion 122 ismade as a single piece similar to the two-piece vent cap portion asshown in FIGS. 4-5. Body adapter portion 124 in this example is threadedto allow venting assembly 120 to be screwed into a threated access porton a storage container and further includes gasket or o-ring 126 toprevent leakage where the storage container and venting assembly 120meet. Venting insert 132 includes first venting diaphragm 130 secured toventing insert 132 by support post 128 and second venting diaphragm 134secured to venting insert 132 by support post 136.

The various components of the disclosed invention may be made from avariety of suitable materials such as plastics, metal, composites, andthe like. The materials used to construct the components may varyaccording to the nature of the material being stored in a particularcontainer. The vent covers may be made out of plastic, composites,silicone, or other suitable material which has sufficient flexibilityand strength so as to prevent deflection until a particular pressuredifferential is exceeded, and then return to an undeformed state oncethe pressure differential is relieved. In examples where ports oropenings on storage containers use non-threaded openings or openings ofnon-standard sizes and/or shapes, the disclosed invention may be adaptedby using means other than threaded engagement between the vent and thecontainer. For example, the vent may be welded or secured usingfasteners such as bolts or screws to a container.

Although the disclosed invention has been described above with referenceto cylindrical storage drums, it is understood by one of ordinary skillin that art that the disclosed invention may be adapted to any sort ofliquid or other storage container where venting is desired. In additionto 55-gallon drums, the disclosed invention may be adapted for use withsmaller or larger drums, buckets, pails, barrels, tanks, and the likewhich are equipped with one or more access ports or openings.

In operation, venting assembly 20 is operationally connected to astorage drum (not shown) or other container adapted to be pressurized.The connection of venting assembly 20 to the storage drum is by anyconventional method, such as through threaded engagement, interferencefit, or the like. Typically, at least one gasket 46, 126 isoperationally connected between body portion 24 and the drum (moretypically between flange portion 28 and drum top 10) to prevent leakageat the venting assembly-drum interface. Typically, body portion 24 isengaged by one or more dogs 42 extending therefrom for tightening whenthreadedly engaging with the drum. Typically, dogs or tabs 42 eachinclude a small through hole 45 for threading a wire therethrough, whichmay be muted onto the associated drum barrel and/or through otherfittings to provide tamper evidence in the event of attempted removal ofthe venting assembly (plug body) 20. Cap portion 22 is typically engagedwith body portion 24 to prevent a non-gastight seal over passage 40.

When the pressure within the drum substantially exceeds the ambientpressure without the drum, typically by about 1.5 P.S.I., more typicallyby about 1.0 P.S.I., and still more typically by about 0.85 P.S.I.,diaphragm 36, 130 partially moves, deflects, and/or distorts to allowthe flow or passage of gas and/or vapor through vent apertures 70 fromwithin the drum to without the drum (and in the direction from distalend 43 of body 24 to proximal end 41 of body 24) until the pressurewithin the drum is substantially equal to that without the drum, i.e.until any pressure differential between the interior and exterior of thedrum is minimized and/or resolved, wherein diaphragm 36, 130 resumes itsoriginal shape and once again prevents the passage of gas and/or vaporthrough vent apertures 70.

Likewise, when the pressure without the drum substantially exceeds thepressure within the drum, typically by about 0.19 psi., more typicallyby about 0.16 psi., and still more typically by about 0.14 psi,diaphragm 38, 134 partially moves, deflects, and/or distorts to allowthe flow or passage of gas and/or vapor through vent apertures 66 fromwithin the drum to without the drum (and in the direction from proximalend 41 of body 24 to distal end 43 of body 24) until the pressurewithout the drum is substantially equal to the pressure within the drum,i.e. until any pressure differential between the interior and exteriorof the drum is minimized and/or resolved, wherein diaphragm 38, 134resumes its original shape and once again prevents the passage of gasand/or vapor through vent apertures 66.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design,the present invention may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage drum venting assembly including: a bodymember having a passage therethrough; a cap member covering a portion ofthe passage in the body member while allowing air to pass therethrough;a venting insert engaged with the body member passage opposite the capmember, and having a first venting diaphragm and a second ventingdiaphragm; wherein the first venting diaphragm is configured to allowpassage of air in one direction; and wherein the second ventingdiaphragm configured to allow passage of air in the direction oppositethe first venting diaphragm.
 2. The storage drum venting assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the first venting diaphragm is smaller than the secondventing diaphragm.
 3. The storage drum venting assembly of claim 1 andfurther comprising a storage drum lid operationally connected to thebody member.
 4. The storage drum venting assembly of claim 3 and furthercomprising a gasket operationally connected to the body member and thestorage drum lid to prevent gas leakage.
 5. The storage drum of claim 3wherein the venting assembly is threadedly engaged with the storage drumlid.
 6. The storage drum venting assembly of claim 1, wherein the bodyportion defines a first interior volume having a first diameter and asecond interior volume having a second, smaller diameter, wherein theinsert is lodged in the first interior volume, and wherein the secondinterior diameter is too small to accept the insert.
 7. The storage drumventing assembly of claim 1, wherein the respective venting diaphragmsare post-tensionable.
 8. A bidirectional vent assembly for a storagedrum, comprising: a generally cylindrical body member defining aninternal passage and external threading and having a proximal end and anoppositely disposed distal end; a cap member removably attachable to theproximal end for making a non-gastight seal over the internal passage; avent insert engaged with the generally cylindrical body member andpositioned within the internal passage and defining a first ventaperture and a second, spaced vent aperture; a first vent aperturediaphragm operationally connected to the first vent aperture forallowing unidirectional passage of gas in a direction from the proximalend toward the distal end; and a second vent aperture diaphragmoperationally connected to the second vent aperture for allowingunidirectional passage of gas in a direction from the proximal endtoward the distal end; wherein for gas to pass through the first ventaperture, the distal end must experience a pressure substantiallygreater than the proximal end; and wherein for gas to pass through thesecond vent aperture, the distal end must experience a pressuresubstantially less than the proximal end.
 9. The bidirectional ventassembly of claim 8, wherein the body member is threadedly engaged witha storage drum lid.
 10. The bidirectional vent assembly of claim 9wherein the generally cylindrical body member further comprises a flangeportion at the proximal end and further comprising a gasketoperationally connected between the flange portion and the storage drumlid.
 11. The bidirectional vent assembly of claim 8 wherein for gas topass through the first vent aperture, the distal end must experience apressure at least 0.85 psi greater than the proximal end; and whereinfor gas to pass through the second vent aperture, the distal end mustexperience a pressure at least 0.14 psi less than the proximal end. 12.The bidirectional vent assembly of claim 8 wherein the respective ventaperture diaphragms are made of a material selected from the groupcomprising rubber, steel, aluminum, and SANTOPRENE.
 13. Thebidirectional vent assembly of claim 8 wherein the respective ventaperture diaphragms are post-tensionable.